Join David Hocking on a journey through Revelation, a book that captures the essence of Jesus Christ’s deity and reliability. This episode delves into the symbolism, prophecy, and the transformative power of Christ’s resurrection. It illuminates how Revelation serves as a beacon of hope and enlightenment for believers, encouraging them to embrace the truth with open hearts and minds, fortified by the promise of ultimate redemption and the glory of Jesus.
Outside of maybe the what we call the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and 25, the greatest message of prophecy and future events Jesus ever gave to us is the book of Revelation. If there was one book we ought to know more than any other book, God’s final message to us, it’s in the book of Revelation. That’s why he says, blessed are those who read and those who hear and those who keep it.
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This is Hope for Today with Bible teacher and author David Hawking. On today’s program, we continue in a portion of Scripture that doesn’t just describe Jesus, it declares Him. Revelation 1, 4-6 puts His identity front and center. The faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. no human opinion, no religious spin here, just the raw, unfiltered glory of who he is. Wow. Amen. Open your Bible and we’ll kick off our study time in just a moment. First, though, you know, if you’re serious about staying rooted in truth and staying tuned in to what God is doing, check out the Hope for Today monthly letter. The Hope for Today monthly letter has been rebuilt from the ground up. Bright new format, straightforward content, and zero fluff. You’ll get biblical insight, ministry updates, and a clear view of where the work of Hope for Today is headed. This month, by the way, there’s a vital ministry update inside that you need to see. Call 1-800-75-BIBLE to request your free subscription to the Hope for Today monthly letter. In Canada, call 888-75-BIBLE. Or you can go to our website, davidhawking.org, and sign up there. And here’s David.
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For those of you who weren’t here, we gave you seven things from the opening three verses of Revelation. So open your Bibles, please. We’ll be picking up in verse four in just a moment. We mentioned that it presents Jesus Christ in all of his glory. It is the revelation, a revelation, of Jesus Christ. It’s not all that’s in the Bible about Jesus Christ, but it’s the high point. It’s the culmination of who Jesus really is. Secondly, it proclaims the glorious return of Jesus Christ to the earth, and that is certainly a key point of the book. Third, it prophesies events in the future that will take place within a short period of time. The text says things that must shortly come to pass. Once they start, it won’t be long before it’s over. And four, it pictures future events with unique symbolism. We mentioned you need to mark carefully words like like and as. Similes, showing likeness not only in external appearance, but showing similarity in action or quality, and they’re used quite frequently in the book. And five, we mentioned that it puts heavy emphasis on the role and ministry of angels. And we learn in Revelation a very interesting fact that angels worship God, chapter 7, verses 11 and 12, and the Lamb of God, chapter 5, verses 11 and 12, but that we are not to worship them, chapter 22, verses 8 and 9. Six, we learn that it places great emphasis upon the church and its response to Jesus Christ. And seven, it promises great blessing to believers. That beatitude says, blessed is he that readeth and they who hear and keep. It’s the first of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation. We also have the phrase, to him that overcometh. And there are a multitude of blessings and rewards to the believer that are mentioned in this book. We begin with Revelation chapter 1, verse 4. And we’ll be reading down to verse 11 and hope that we get somewhere similar or close to verse 11. I’m not sure, really. Okay, here we go. Chapter 1, verse 4. Here’s what it says. John to the seven churches which are in Asia said, Grace be unto you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before his throne and from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead. and the prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever, and all God’s people said, Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, and all God’s people said, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, and what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia, unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. I want you to notice four major things in this particular section, verses 4 to 11. The message is not only from God the Father and from the seven angels. It is primarily, and that’s why it’s mentioned last, and the focus is here, it’s primarily from Jesus Christ. It is a revelation of Jesus Christ. outside of maybe what we call the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and 25, the greatest message of prophecy and future events Jesus ever gave to us is the book of Revelation. If there was one book we ought to know more than any other book, God’s final message to us, it’s in the book of Revelation. That’s why he says, blessed are those who read and those who hear and those who keep it. It comes from Jesus Christ our Lord. And there’s a beautiful, beautiful description in verses 5 and 6. Let’s take a look at it again. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own body, in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his fathers, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. And after introducing the glory of Christ, there was nothing else he could do. He’s not done with his book. He just burst out and said, Amen. Praise God. Right on. That’s our Savior. I want you to see several things about Jesus Christ, at least six of them right here. Number one, notice his reliability. He is the faithful witness. Aren’t you glad for the faithfulness of Jesus Christ? Look at Revelation chapter 3, verse 14. Very interesting that to the last church, the church that’s really messed up, lukewarm, God wants to spit them out of his mouth. It was to that church that he identified himself and said, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness. the beginning of the creation of God. He’s the faithful witness. Turn back to John chapter 8, the gospel of John chapter 8. Same man, remember, wrote the gospel of John as well as the book of Revelation. Go back to John 8 and look at verse 14. You can count on the words of Jesus Christ because he never lies. Hebrews 6.18 says it’s impossible for God to lie. Jesus is God in human flesh. You can count on Jesus Christ. He’s a faithful witness. He’s totally reliable. Everybody else may fail you. Jesus never fails. You can count on him. John 8, 14. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear witness of myself, yet my witness is true. For I know from where I came and where I go, but you cannot tell from where I come and where I go. Jesus tells us you can count on him. My witness is true. It is genuine. It is totally reliable. Look at chapter 18, an interesting remark. There are several of them in the gospel. I’m just taking a couple to highlight. In chapter 18 in front of Pilate, listen to these words. Chapter 18, verse 37. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice. He is the faithful witness. He is totally reliable. The Bible speaks of the faithfulness of God surrounding the believer. Isn’t that neat? When God wanted to tell the people of Israel about his faithfulness in his promise to King David that a son of David would sit on the throne of Israel one day, he said in Psalm 89, it’s like my faithful witness in the sky, referring to the rainbow and his promise that he would never destroy the world again with a flood. God’s faithful witness in the sky. Here’s an example of what a precious truth it is to know the reliability of Jesus Christ and that he’s faithful. 1 John 1.9. If we confess our sins, he is what? Faithful, totally reliable, and just as well to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from a few of the things we did bad about several years ago. What did it say? From all unrighteousness. Why? Why? Because we deserve it? Hardly. Because God is faithful, that’s why. God is faithful to his promise. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. Not our performance. His blood cleanses us from all sin. He is faithful. He’s totally reliable. Go back to Revelation chapter 1 again, verse 5. He’s called the faithful witness. And the next one, those guys that come by your house in white shirts and long ties and riding bicycles, really enjoy bringing to your attention. It says the first begotten of the dead. And they’ll tell you, well, if he’s first begotten, then he can’t be God. How could God be begotten? Very interesting problem. The second thing we draw to your attention from this little phrase is his resurrection. It’s a statement dealing with his resurrection, that his resurrection was different from any others, and because he lives, so we shall live. The Greek word begotten is also translated firstborn, and it’s a very common word in Greek, prototokos. What does it mean? I want to take you on a little trip about prototokos. And I want to start with Psalm 89. Psalm 89. The Greek word doesn’t appear here because it was written in Hebrew, translated in English. But our idea of the firstborn, the first begotten from the dead, we go to Psalm 89. And pick it up at verse 24. Verse 24. Psalm 89. beginning at verse 24. It says, But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn. Now look at the next description of that. Higher than the kings of the earth. Now will you take your Bibles and turn to Romans 8.29. Romans 8.29. Someday somebody may try to destroy your confidence in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ by bringing to your attention the words first begotten or first born. Prototokos is not referring to somebody who was born first like sequence or time. but it’s referring to that which is preeminent. We’ll see that in just a moment. Romans 8, 29. It says, Jesus was not born first. Everyone from Adam up till Jesus was born before he was born as a baby in Bethlehem. But he is the firstborn among many brethren. The preeminent one. Turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15. What you learn in Revelation is the glory and majesty and deity of Jesus Christ. You find out in Revelation more about Jesus than you do in the rest of the New Testament combined. This book constantly deals with the glory and majesty of our Lord. In 1 Corinthians 15, verse 20… But now is Christ risen from the dead. Remember, he’s the first begotten or firstborn from the dead. The issue is his resurrection. Now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die… even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ’s that is coming. What does it mean that Christ is the firstfruits or the firstborn of the dead? Well, he’s the first one to come back from the dead, never to die again. Lazarus died again. Widow’s son died again. But he’s the first of a great harvest that God has promised is going to come someday when believers in him are going to be resurrected and will never die again. Praise the Lord. We’re going to have brand new bodies fashioned like into the glorious body of Jesus Christ. He is the firstborn from the dead, the preeminent one, and the first of a great harvest that is coming of people who shall be resurrected never to die again. Turn to Colossians 1. This is a great one. Colossians 1. They’re all good. Colossians 1. Verse 18. Colossians 1.18 about Jesus Christ. It says he is the head of the body, Colossians 1.18. He’s the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. And watch this next phrase, and it tells you all you need to know, that in all things he might have the what? It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, or literally all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him. The word the Father in italics. The point is all that God is was pleased to dwell in the physical body of Christ. Christ is all in all, Paul said. All the fullness of God dwells in him in bodily form. And Colossians 1.18 says that in all things he might have the preeminence. Prototokos means preeminent one, high above everything, higher than all the kings of the earth. That’s our Lord Jesus Christ. Well, let’s take one more, just in case you’re not convinced. Hebrews chapter 1. This is a wonderful one. Hebrews chapter 1, verse 6. Hebrews 1, verse 6. Hebrews is another book that presents the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ in a marvelous way. Hebrews 1, verse 6. It says, And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten, same word, firstborn, into the world, he saith, let all the angels of God worship him. Now the same man at my door who told me that the word first begotten cannot mean that he is God is the same man that argued that he was Michael the archangel. I said to him, well, I have a problem with this view. He said, what’s that? I said, the problem is that according to Hebrews 1.6, this first begotten, this firstborn, that you and I both agree is referring to Jesus. According to the Bible, the father told all the angels to worship him. He said, well, that’s because Michael is the archangel over them all. I said, no, because in Revelation 22, 8 and 9, when John went to worship the angel, he was told not to worship the angel, that you’re only to worship God. So if you’re going to have the angels worship him, he has to be God. That’s the only one you’re to worship. You scared me for a moment. I thought you were taking his view. Praise the Lord. John just keeps laying on us about Jesus Christ and his glory.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, that’s Bible teacher David Hawking, and this is Hope for Today. And David’s back in just a moment to share a very special listener letter. You’re going to really appreciate this story. And just before David returns, Matt’s here, Matt Hawking, and together we’re going to share a word on a great book from David.
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In our last radio series, we witnessed Daniel’s exile to Babylon and the trials and the tribulation he and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced from living in its idolatrous pagan and evil culture.
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And in our current series through Revelation, we’re going to see Babylon’s continued influence in a vivid picture of the world’s condition today and in the prophetic future.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah. And Jim, we’re talking about Babylonianism. That’s it. I mean, what is Babylonianism and how did it grow out of ancient Babylon into what’s been in the incredibly destructive and deceptive impact on civilizations and history.
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Over a 4,000-year time span.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah.
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How has Babylonianism saturated our culture today? That’s a great study all by itself.
SPEAKER 01 :
And how will it unleash unparalleled evil in the end time? Well, our featured resource is a biblical guide for all you need to know about Babylonianism, how to stand guard against its compromising and misleading dogma, and how to understand its role in end times deception. This month, we’re featuring a special price on my dad’s book, Babylon, Its History and Prophecies. Normally $15, just $10 this month.
SPEAKER 02 :
And Matt, what a wonderful, powerful study guide commentary this is. I would call it a roadmap through scripture on the topic of Babylonianism.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah, it not only helps believers to be aware and prepared, but it also reemphasizes the wonder of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. That’s the beauty of scripture and the joy of heaven that awaits believers. Amen. Amen. Get Babylon, its history and prophecies, normally $15. Just $10 this month when you call 1-800-75-BIBLE, 242-53. In Canada, call 1-888-75-BIBLE or purchase at davidhocking.org.
SPEAKER 02 :
We also want to mention something that will help you get even more out of our current radio series in Revelation. This is David’s complete message outlines and sermon notes for all 48 messages in the series. Now, these aren’t just surface bullet points. They’re full, detailed notes for all the messages. And if you want to follow along more closely in the series, if you want to dig deeper, deeper on your own, or maybe to teach Revelation, well, get this resource. The Revelation series study notes, the complete set is just $10. Available in print or a download format. To purchase and download, visit davidhawking.org. Or call 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. to request a printed version. And in Canada, call 888-75-BIBLE. And by the way, if you feel led to include an extra amount, a donation, if you will, we want you to know that your gift, your contribution will help people all over the world to hear the Bible taught clearly, many for the first time through the ministry of Hope for Today. That’s our heart. That’s our passion. That is what we do. Write to Hope for Today, Box 3927, Tustin, California, 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO 7 Oaks, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 8P1. And thanks so much. As promised, here again is David.
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I have a listener here who—well, we get a lot of letters and comments, but I just love this one. She says, ìI love how you flesh out the words of Scripture and also how you make books. I assumed that they would be boring. Whoops! Wrong assumption. Iíve come alive since reading your stuff.î I recommend your messages now on the radio here in our area to both believers and unbelievers alike. One of these people I talked to, he hates Israel. Well, he’s sure in for some biblical truth if he will listen. Thank you. Always food for thought. You preach the wonderful truth of God’s Word. Hugs and blessings. Well, thank you very much for that sweet letter. Folks, we do depend upon the radio listeners to support this broadcast. We have no church or organization behind us. And so we are dependent upon you and your precious gifts, and of course your prayers, that God would be glorified through all that we say and do, and that we might truly keep to the truth of the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible. This is a Bible teaching ministry, and we are not ashamed of that. We are excited about it, and I hope you are too. We do need to know what the Bible actually says. Well, thanks again for all of you who help us. Doesn’t matter what the size of it is. Just pray for us and help us whenever you can. God bless you, and thanks for listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, friend, if that letter David just read, if it resonated with you, well, we’d love to hear from you too. Maybe this teaching has blessed you, giving you clarity or strengthened your walk with the Lord. Well, tell us about it. You can also share a prayer request. We’d love to pray for you. And as David said, this ministry depends on listeners like you, not just for encouragement, but for the financial support that makes all this possible. Every gift you send, whether it’s a one-time gift or a regular monthly gift, helps us keep teaching God’s Word, reaching more people, and offering free resources to those who need them the most. You can make a donation again by phone at 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S., 888-75-BIBLE in Canada, and Bible by the Numbers, 24253, or contribute online at davidhawking.org. Well, next time on the program, David takes us even deeper into Revelation chapter 1, verses 4 through 6. So invite someone you know to listen along with you. We’ll see you right here on Hope for Today.
Join David Hocking on a journey through Revelation, a book that captures the essence of Jesus Christ’s deity and reliability. This episode delves into the symbolism, prophecy, and the transformative power of Christ’s resurrection. It illuminates how Revelation serves as a beacon of hope and enlightenment for believers, encouraging them to embrace the truth with open hearts and minds, fortified by the promise of ultimate redemption and the glory of Jesus.
